Wellington Phoenix midfielder Chloe Knott revealed that her unexpected departure from the A-League Women six games into the new season was not solely due to financial difficulties.
The vice captain of the Phoenix, Knott, made the announcement on Thursday that she would be released from her contract immediately because it was no longer manageable for her to balance a full-time job outside of football.
Although Knott was mentioned in the press release issued by the club, she clarified her departure a few hours later in a statement that she released on her own.
Even though Knott was having trouble making ends meet while paying Wellington rent and an Auckland mortgage, she insisted that money problems were not the only cause of her problems.
As a founding member of the Phoenix women’s team, Knott has participated in all 38 of the team’s games. Last weekend, they defeated Perth Glory 2-1, with her scoring the game’s winning goal.
Even though the team has made enormous progress on the field, Knott was harsh about her experience there, claiming that it was no longer a place she felt fulfilled.
Knott stated, “It’s become obvious my values no longer align with the club or current management after being here since the beginning of this season.”
“It is crucial for me to work in a setting that values integrity, sincerity, and a sincere concern for each person’s growth both on and off the field.
“I want to work in a place where all employees, regardless of age or stage of career, feel valued and respected and where their sacrifices and commitment are recognized without their having to ask for them.
“It is insufficient to postpone making changes until a significant event occurs.”
Knott was contacted by Stuff for more information, but she did not respond.
Because of their respect for Knott, the Phoenix declined to comment directly on her statement. However, they did say they appreciated her viewpoint and would keep working to support the women’s team, which included pursuing increased compensation.
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A$600,000 ($645,000) is the most an A-League Women team can spend on their entire roster, which equates to A$30,000 ($32,000) per player in a squad of 20.
The majority of the team works outside of football. Michaela Foster, the player of the year for the Phoenix, worked at a New World supermarket the previous season.
“Over the past six months, a great deal of time has been dedicated to our women’s program, both on and off the field, to the point where we think it is the best high-performance environment in the league.” A Phoenix representative stated, “We’ve created an environment players want to be a part of.”
This year, the larger club has also worked hard to improve our culture and values, and Lily Alfeld, the inaugural women’s captain, was just named to take the lead in this area moving forward.
